US8174351B2 - Thermal assembly coupled with an appliance - Google Patents

Thermal assembly coupled with an appliance Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US8174351B2
US8174351B2 US12/121,836 US12183608A US8174351B2 US 8174351 B2 US8174351 B2 US 8174351B2 US 12183608 A US12183608 A US 12183608A US 8174351 B2 US8174351 B2 US 8174351B2
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
ears
appliance
snap
assembly
thermal
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Active, expires
Application number
US12/121,836
Other versions
US20080285253A1 (en
Inventor
Joseph J. Scheiber
Michael S. Coverstone
Jeremiah Lewis
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Group Dekko Inc
Original Assignee
Group Dekko Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Group Dekko Inc filed Critical Group Dekko Inc
Priority to US12/121,836 priority Critical patent/US8174351B2/en
Assigned to GROUP DEKKO, INC. reassignment GROUP DEKKO, INC. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: COVERSTONE, MICHAEL S., LEWIS, JEREMIAH, SCHEIBER, JOESPH J.
Publication of US20080285253A1 publication Critical patent/US20080285253A1/en
Assigned to WELLS FARGO CAPITAL FINANCE, LLC, AS AGENT reassignment WELLS FARGO CAPITAL FINANCE, LLC, AS AGENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Assignors: GROUP DEKKO, INC.
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US8174351B2 publication Critical patent/US8174351B2/en
Active legal-status Critical Current
Adjusted expiration legal-status Critical

Links

Images

Classifications

    • DTEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06FLAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
    • D06F58/00Domestic laundry dryers
    • D06F58/20General details of domestic laundry dryers 
    • D06F58/26Heating arrangements, e.g. gas heating equipment
    • DTEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06FLAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
    • D06F34/00Details of control systems for washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
    • D06F34/14Arrangements for detecting or measuring specific parameters
    • D06F34/26Condition of the drying air, e.g. air humidity or temperature
    • GPHYSICS
    • G01MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01KMEASURING TEMPERATURE; MEASURING QUANTITY OF HEAT; THERMALLY-SENSITIVE ELEMENTS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G01K13/00Thermometers specially adapted for specific purposes
    • DTEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06FLAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
    • D06F2103/00Parameters monitored or detected for the control of domestic laundry washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
    • D06F2103/28Air properties
    • D06F2103/32Temperature
    • DTEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06FLAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
    • D06F2103/00Parameters monitored or detected for the control of domestic laundry washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
    • D06F2103/52Parameters monitored or detected for the control of domestic laundry washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers related to electric heating means, e.g. temperature or voltage
    • DTEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06FLAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
    • D06F2105/00Systems or parameters controlled or affected by the control systems of washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
    • D06F2105/28Electric heating
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01HELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H37/00Thermally-actuated switches
    • H01H37/74Switches in which only the opening movement or only the closing movement of a contact is effected by heating or cooling

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to appliances, and, more particularly, to connecting features of an appliance and an appliance member.
  • a thermostat mounting arrangement can include such a thermostat mounted to a surface supporting portion of the clothes dryer to sense temperature conditions in the dryer.
  • This mounting arrangement has an aperture passing through the surface support portion, the aperture having an enlarged central opening with four projection tab members extending into the central opening and two diametrically opposed slots extending radially outward from the central opening.
  • the thermostat can have two resilient wings each having an arm extending generally toward and through a corresponding slot of the aperture. Each arm terminates in a bent end member adapted to engage the inner side of the surface portion adjacent the slot of the aperture.
  • the thermostat can have a depressed shoulder surrounding the temperature sensitive flat surface which engages the outer side of the projection tab members extending into the central opening of the aperture. Difficulty, however, can be encountered when trying to mount the thermostat to the surface supporting portion of the dryer, particularly considering the bending or squeezing of one of the wing members, the pivoting of the thermostat into the central opening, and the pushing of a flat instrument such as a screwdriver downwardly between the squeezed wing and a bulb portion of the thermostat to force the arm of the squeezed wing to take on its final position.
  • a flat instrument such as a screwdriver
  • the present invention provides a simple, easy-to-use, tool-less snap-fit arrangement for connecting an appliance member to an appliance.
  • the invention in one form is directed to an appliance assembly including an appliance and an appliance member.
  • the appliance includes a wall defining a plurality of holes.
  • the appliance member is carried by the appliance.
  • the appliance member includes a housing which includes a snap-fit arrangement coupled with the appliance.
  • the snap-fit arrangement includes a first plurality of ears and a second plurality of ears, the first and second plurality of ears snap-fittingly engaging the plurality of holes.
  • the invention in another form is directed to a thermal assembly including a housing.
  • the housing includes a snap-fit arrangement configured for coupling with an appliance.
  • the snap-fit arrangement includes a first plurality of ears and a second plurality of ears, the first and second plurality of ears configured for snap-fittingly engaging a plurality of holes defined by a wall of the appliance.
  • the invention in yet another form is directed to a method of coupling a thermal assembly with an appliance, the method including the steps of providing, carrying, and engaging.
  • the providing step provides that the thermal assembly includes a housing including a snap-fit arrangement, the snap-fit arrangement including a first plurality of ears and a second plurality of ears.
  • the carrying step includes carrying the thermal assembly by the appliance.
  • the engaging step includes snap-fittingly engaging the first and second plurality of ears with a plurality of holes defined by a wall of the appliance.
  • An advantage of the present invention is that the appliance member is easily mounted to the appliance.
  • Another advantage is that the appliance member is mounted to the appliance without using tools.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of an appliance assembly including an appliance and a thermal assembly
  • FIG. 2 is a schematic representation showing the mechanical and electrical connections between the thermal assembly and the appliance of the appliance assembly of FIG. 1 ;
  • FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of the thermal assembly of FIG. 1 ;
  • FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the thermal assembly of FIG. 3 ;
  • FIG. 5 is a bottom perspective view of the thermal assembly of FIG. 3 ;
  • FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the thermal assembly of FIG. 3 ;
  • FIG. 7 is a top perspective view of the thermal assembly of FIG. 3 having been inserted in mounting holes of an appliance wall prior to seating the thermal assembly in the mounting holes;
  • FIG. 8 is a bottom perspective view of the thermal assembly of FIG. 3 having been inserted in mounting holes of the appliance wall prior to seating the thermal assembly in the mounting holes;
  • FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the thermal assembly of FIG. 3 seated in mounting holes of the appliance wall;
  • FIG. 10 is bottom plan view of the appliance wall of FIGS. 7-9 ;
  • FIG. 11 is a side view of the thermal assembly of FIG. 3 .
  • an appliance assembly 20 which generally includes an appliance 22 and an appliance member 24 , which can be a thermal assembly 24 .
  • Appliance 22 can be, for example, a laundry dryer, a dishwasher, an oven, and/or any other appliance that produces heat using a heater or incidental heat. This listing of appliances is not intended to be limiting.
  • FIG. 1 shows that appliance 22 (a laundry dryer 22 ) includes an external housing 26 , an air intake 28 , a fan (not shown), a heater 30 , a rotating drum 32 , an exhaust gas outlet or housing 34 (for example, an exhaust gas outlet manifold 34 or, simply, a dryer manifold 34 ), a hot air exhaust line 36 , and thermal assembly 24 .
  • the fan can be used to draw ambient air into air intake 28 . That ambient air can then be heated by heater 30 (which can be a heating coil), and thus heater 30 can be used to heat the interior of rotating drum 32 of the clothes dryer 22 . The warmed air can then be supplied to rotating drum 32 which tumbles the clothes in drum 32 .
  • Drum 32 can be rotated by a motor and belt arrangement (not shown).
  • Hot air inside drum 32 can be moved out the other end of drum 32 (opposite the air intake side of drum 32 ), through a lint filter (not shown), and into hot air exhaust manifold 34 , which can be used to vent the hot air exhaust away from dryer 22 through a hot air exhaust line 36 .
  • the design of dryer 22 can take on various forms. The design of dryer 22 should be such that thermal assembly 24 can accurately detect the degree of heat inside or exiting drum 32 .
  • appliance 22 can include a wall 38 which defines a plurality of mounting holes 86 , 88 , 90 . Wall 38 can be flat; wall 38 , however, need not be completely flat or planar but can have some curvature.
  • FIG. 2 shows that thermal assembly 24 has a mechanical connection 37 and an electrical connection 39 with appliance. While FIG. 2 shows thermal assembly 24 apart from appliance, it is to be understood that thermal assembly 24 is carried by, and can be disposed within, appliance 22 , as indicated in FIG. 1 .
  • thermal assembly 24 includes a housing 40 attached to and carried by appliance 22 , a temperature sensing device 42 carried by housing 40 and electrically coupled with appliance 22 , and a thermal fuse 44 carried by housing 40 and electrically coupled with appliance 22 .
  • Thermal assembly 24 can be a modular assembly and thereby can be, as a single unit, attached to and detached from appliance 22 .
  • housing 40 includes a snap-fit arrangement 46 coupled with appliance 22 .
  • Housing 40 can further include a cover 48 and a support body 50 .
  • Cover 48 can be made of a plastic, a nylon, and/or polypropylene, for example, in a suitable manner (i.e., molding or vacuum forming). As shown in FIGS. 3 and 6 , cover 48 can include raised sections on its exterior (or, stated another way, recesses on the interior of cover 48 ) which conform to temperature sensing device 42 and thermal fuse 44 , both of which are contained underneath cover 48 .
  • cover 48 includes connection features, such as snaps or ears 74 and 76 and mounting walls 70 , which connect (i.e., using a snap-fit) thermal assembly 24 with connection features on appliance (i.e., holes 86 , 88 , 90 formed in a sheet metal wall 38 ).
  • connection features on appliance i.e., holes 86 , 88 , 90 formed in a sheet metal wall 38 .
  • This snap-fit arrangement is discussed in more detail below.
  • Cover 48 can be welded (i.e., ultrasonic welding) to support body 50 .
  • thermal assembly 24 can be formed by encapsulating temperature sensing device 42 and thermal fuse 44 using overmolding or injection molding techniques.
  • thermal assembly 24 can be formed by potting temperature sensing device 42 and thermal fuse 44 relative to a housing supporting sensor 42 and fuse 44 .
  • Support body 50 can be made from the same material as cover 48 .
  • Support body 50 can include a disk portion 52 , a raised platform portion 54 , and clamp portions 56 .
  • support body 50 can carry electrical terminals 58 , which are coupled with and thereby matingly received by terminals (not shown) of appliance 22 . More specifically, electrical terminals 58 can protrude through disk 52 and be clamped between platform 54 and clamp portions 56 .
  • FIG. 6 shows that support body 50 carries four terminals 58 , each terminal 58 corresponding respectively to longitudinal ends of temperature sensing device 42 and thermal fuse 44 .
  • conductors 60 Proceeding from the longitudinal ends of sensor 44 and the longitudinal ends of fuse 42 are conductors 60 (which can be referred to as leads 60 ) for conducting electricity respectively to and from electrical terminals 58 .
  • Each conductor 60 projects downward from a respective longitudinal end of sensor 42 and fuse 44 and is joined with a terminal 58 positioned proximate the respective longitudinal end, as shown in FIG. 6 .
  • the leads 60 can be welded to the terminals 58 , such as by resistance welding or ultrasonic welding.
  • Sensor 42 and fuse 44 can be arranged so as to be electrically in parallel with each other, electrically in series with each other, or electrically separate from one another.
  • temperature sensing device 42 is a thermistor.
  • temperature sensing device 44 can be a thermostat, a thermocouple, or a resistance temperature detector.
  • Sensor 42 can send control signals corresponding to temperature to a controller (not shown) located on appliance 22 (alternatively, if sensor 42 is a thermostat, thermostat can itself be a controller); that controller can function to turn heater 30 “on” or “off” depending upon the sensed temperature and the desired temperature.
  • Fuse 44 can be in direct electrical connection with heater 30 such that when fuse 44 blows due to excessive temperature, electrical supply to heater 30 is cut off and heater 30 shuts down.
  • fuse 44 can be coupled with the controller of appliance 22 such that a blown fuse 44 causes the controller to cause heater 30 to shut down.
  • Platform 54 can be higher than disk 52 and include two seats, one seat for seating temperature sensing device 42 and the other seat for seating thermal fuse 44 , as shown in FIG. 6 .
  • sensor 42 and fuse 44 are mounted to platform 54 in close proximity relative to one another such that thermal fuse 44 accurately detects heat about temperature sensing device 42 .
  • sensor 42 and fuse 44 can accurately detect, at least approximately, the same degree of heat within or exiting rotating drum 32 .
  • sensor 44 detects hot air exhaust being 150° F. (for example)
  • fuse 44 is positioned close enough to sensor 42 such that fuse 44 also detects the hot air exhaust as being 150° F., or at least very close to 150° F.
  • both cover 48 and platform 54 of support body 50 can include through holes (not shown). More specifically, the through hole in cover 48 can run generally vertically and be positioned between (centered or offset) the raised portions corresponding to sensor 42 and fuse 44 . Similarly, the through hole in platform 54 can run vertically and be positioned on the horizontal landing between (centered or offset) the raised portions of platform 54 serving as seats for sensor 42 and fuse 44 . The through holes in cover 48 and platform 54 can serve as material removal and can be used during manufacturing.
  • support body 50 can be welded to cover 48 (such as by ultrasonic welding).
  • cover 48 In attaching cover 48 to support body 50 , the recesses formed in the interior of cover 48 lie respectively over temperature sensing device 42 and thermal fuse 44 and thereby capture sensor 42 and fuse 44 between platform 54 and cover 48 .
  • sensor 42 and fuse 44 are located within housing 40 , and, further, sensor 42 and fuse 44 are mounted on platform 54 under cover 48 .
  • Thermal assembly 24 is attached to appliance 22 in a place where sensor 42 and fuse 44 detect the heat within or exiting rotating drum 32 , the air within or flowing into the rotating drum 32 having been heated by heater 30 .
  • thermal assembly 24 can be placed in hot air exhaust outlet manifold 34 of a clothes dryer 22 (as indicated in FIG. 1 ), the exhaust outlet manifold 34 proceeding from rotating drum 32 .
  • dryer 22 can be either an electric dryer or a gas dryer.
  • Cover 48 of housing 40 includes a peripheral edge 62 and defines a first section 64 and a second section 66 opposite first section 64 .
  • First section is formed on cover 48 to one side of axis 68
  • second section 66 is formed on the other side of axis 68 ( FIG. 4 ).
  • On peripheral edge 62 of cover 48 is formed snap-fit arrangement 46 for snap-fitting thermal assembly 24 to appliance wall 38 .
  • Snap-fit arrangement 46 includes two mounting walls 70 extending laterally from peripheral edge 62 , mounting walls 70 mirroring each other with respect to axes 68 and 72 .
  • Mounting walls 70 are formed on opposite sides of cover 48 with respect to axis 72 .
  • Each mounting wall 70 runs from first section 64 to second section 66 along peripheral edge 62 and runs generally parallel to peripheral edge 62 except at the longitudinal ends of each mounting wall 70 .
  • mounting walls 70 serve not only to form ears 74 but also serve together as a stop and a reinforcing mechanism when mounting thermal assembly 24 to appliance wall 38 .
  • snap-fit arrangement 46 further includes ears 74 and ears 76 , ears 74 , 76 snap-fittingly engaging holes 88 and 90 defined in appliance wall 38 .
  • Each ear 74 and 76 includes a platform 78 and a nodule 80 (which can also be called a projection 80 ) mounted on each ear platform 78 .
  • Ears 74 in first section 64 are at least substantially identical to ears 74 in second section 66
  • ear 76 in first section 64 is at least substantially identical to ear 76 in second section 66 .
  • the use of the phrase “substantially identical” is intended to account for manufacturing tolerances.
  • ears 74 and 76 in first section 64 serves to describe ears 74 and 76 in second section 66 .
  • Ears 74 , 76 extend laterally from peripheral edge 62 . More specifically, ears 74 are formed on each longitudinal end of each mounting wall 70 . Stated another way, longitudinal ends of mounting walls 70 generally form tear-drop shaped platforms 78 which, in part, form ears 74 . Ears 76 are not mounted on mounting walls 70 . Rather, ears 76 stand alone and project from peripheral edge 62 of cover 48 as a tab. In first section 64 , ear 76 is centered between two ears 74 . Similarly, in second section 66 , ear 76 is also centered between two ears 74 . Stated another way, as shown in FIG.
  • first section 64 occupies what can be described as the 12 o'clock position on peripheral edge 62 of cover 48
  • ear 76 in second section 66 occupies the 6 o'clock position on peripheral edge 62
  • the two ears 74 in first section 64 occupy respectively approximately the 11 o'clock and 1 o'clock positions on peripheral edge 62
  • the two ears 74 in second section 66 occupy respectively approximately the 5 o'clock and 7 o'clock positions on peripheral edge 62
  • first section 64 includes two ears 74 and one ear 76 therebetween
  • second section 66 includes two ears 74 and one ear 76 therebetween.
  • Each ear 74 is horizontally and vertically offset from each ear 76 (Note, what is meant by vertical, horizontal, top, and bottom herein in reference to thermal assembly 24 is intended to have reference to an imaginary horizontal plane on which terminals 58 are positioned, terminals 58 serving as legs for the remaining portions of terminal assembly 24 ; in use, however, thermal assembly 24 may be rotated and no longer be so positioned on a horizontal plane.). Stated another way, ears 74 are horizontally and vertically spaced from ear 76 in first section 64 . This is also the case in second section 66 . This horizontal and vertical spacing is readily shown in FIGS. 4 and 11 .
  • all ears 74 lie in a first plane 106
  • all ears 76 lie in a second plane 108
  • planes 106 and 108 are offset from each other.
  • planes 106 and 108 are both at least substantially horizontal and thus vertically offset from one another and at least substantially parallel to one another.
  • Plane 106 runs through the horizontal midline of the material thickness of mounting walls 70 and platforms 78 of ears 74 (mounting walls 70 and platforms 78 of ears 74 being coplanar), and (like ears 74 ) plane 108 runs through the horizontal midline of the material thickness of platforms 78 of ears 76 .
  • planes 106 and 108 is thus made with specific reference to platforms 78 of ears 74 and 76 ; that is, platforms 78 of ears 74 are offset from platforms 78 of ears 76 , as shown in FIGS. 5-8 and 11 .
  • nodules 80 may or may not be offset from each other; that is, a plane running through a midline of nodules 80 of ears 74 may or may not be coplanar with a plane running through a midline of nodules 80 of ears 76 .
  • FIG. 11 shows nodules 80 of ears 74 being offset (not aligned) with nodules 80 of ears 76 ; nodules 80 of ears 74 and ears 76 could be larger and then be aligned.
  • planes 106 and 108 accommodates the appliance wall 38 between ear platforms 78 of ears 74 and 76 .
  • FIG. 11 shows planes 106 and 108 as broken lines, it being understood that planes 106 and 108 run perpendicular to the page of the drawing.
  • Nodules 80 (or, projections 80 ) on ears 74 face in the same direction 82 relative to each other.
  • Nodules 80 on ears 76 face in the same direction 84 relative to each other.
  • nodules 80 of ears 74 face in the opposite direction relative to nodules 80 of ears 76 .
  • direction 82 is opposite direction 84 .
  • Appliance wall 38 defines a plurality of holes 86 , 88 , 90 for accommodating thermal assembly 24 in snap-fit engagement.
  • These appliance wall holes include a large hole 86 and two smaller holes 88 .
  • Hole 86 is a relatively large hole which matingly accommodates peripheral edge 62 of cover 48 .
  • mounting walls 70 stop thermal assembly 24 from traveling all of the way through hole 86 and thus lie adjacent appliance wall 38 .
  • hole 86 is generally circular in shape. At generally the 12 o'clock and 6 o'clock positions of hole 86 are formed mounting holes 90 .
  • Mounting holes 90 can be in communication with mounting hole 86 (that is, hole 86 and holes 90 essentially form one large hole together), as shown in FIG. 10 ; alternatively, mounting holes 90 can be formed so as not to be in communication with hole 86 .
  • Mounting holes 88 are not in communication with mounting holes 86 or 90 , are located to one side of each mounting hole 90 , and are 180 degrees apart from each other (stated another way, diametrically apart), as shown in FIGS. 7-10 (in particular, FIG. 10 ).
  • Mounting holes 88 can be substantially circular and are shaped to matingly accommodate nodules 80 of ears 74 disposed in first and second sections 64 , 66 of cover 48 .
  • Each mounting hole 90 is at least substantially identical to each other.
  • Each mounting hole 90 includes three branches 94 , 92 , and 94 .
  • the three branches are a larger center branch 92 and two, at least substantially identical, smaller side branches 94 positioned to either side of center branch 92 .
  • Center branch 92 is shaped and sized to matingly accommodate the insertion of ear platform 78 of each ear 76 when thermal assembly 24 is inserted in hole 86 .
  • Each side branch 94 is shaped and sized to matingly accommodate seating of a nodule 80 .
  • one side branch 94 matingly accommodates the nodule 80 of ear 76
  • the other side branch 94 matingly accommodates nodule 80 of one of the ears 74 (that is, the ear 74 which is not seated in mounting hole 88 ).
  • each projection 80 of ears 74 , 76 engages a corresponding hole 86 , 88 , or 90 .
  • thermal assembly 24 is attached to appliance 22 using the aforedescribed snap-fit arrangement 46 , which can include resilient ears 74 , 76 of cover 80 .
  • electrical terminals 58 can be electrically coupled with corresponding features (not shown) of appliance 22 (i.e., an appliance electrical connector which is moved to terminals 58 to mate therewith).
  • temperature sensing device 42 alone (i.e., a thermostat) or in combination with a controller of appliance 22 , regulates the amount of heat produced by heater 30 .
  • thermal fuse 44 provides that extra safety measure. As such, when sensor 42 fails, fuse 44 also detects heat produced by heater 30 and can cut off electrical supply to heater 30 before the temperature produced by heater 30 reaches a dangerous level. If fuse 44 blows, then thermal assembly 24 can be replaced as a single unit, if assembly 24 is a modular assembly.
  • top side 96 of thermal assembly 24 can be directed towards the interior of hot air exhaust outlet 34 so that sensor 42 and fuse 44 are immersed in the hot air; that is, top side 96 of thermal assembly 24 is disposed adjacent interior side 100 of appliance wall 38 , and bottom side 98 of thermal assembly 24 is disposed proximate the exterior side 102 of appliance wall 38 .
  • wall 38 can be at least generally planar (which allows for some curvature in wall 38 ).
  • the thermal assembly is rotated until nodules 80 of ears 74 and 76 seat in their corresponding holes 88 and 90 . More specifically, as shown in FIG. 8 , thermal assembly 24 is rotated clockwise until nodules 80 of ears 74 at the 1 o'clock and 7 o'clock positions seat in corresponding holes 88 . While these nodules 80 of ears 74 so seat, the nodules 80 of the other ear 74 will seat in the side branch 94 of hole 90 farthest away from the corresponding hole 88 and the nodules 80 of ear 76 will seat in the side branch 94 of hole 90 nearest the corresponding hole 88 .
  • ears 74 , 76 and mounting walls 70 serve to clamp thermal assembly to appliance wall 38 .
  • thermal assembly 24 is turned in the opposite direction and then pulled out of hole 86 in the opposite direction in which thermal assembly was originally inserted.
  • the present invention further provides a method of coupling thermal assembly 24 with appliance 22 .
  • the method includes the steps of providing, carrying, and engaging.
  • the providing step provides thermal assembly 24 includes housing 40 including snap-fit arrangement 46 , snap-fit arrangement 46 including a plurality of ears 74 , 76 .
  • the carrying step carries thermal assembly 24 by appliance 22 .
  • the engaging step snap-fittingly engages ears with a plurality of holes defined by wall 38 of appliance 22 .
  • Thermal assembly 24 can include temperature sensing device 42 and thermal fuse 44 , temperature sensing device 42 and thermal fuse 44 being electrically coupled with appliance 22 , housing 40 carrying temperature sensing device 42 and thermal fuse 44 .
  • the plurality of ears can include a first plurality of ears 74 and a second plurality of ears 76 , ears 74 and ears 76 snap-fittingly engaging holes 88 and 90 .
  • Housing 40 can include peripheral edge 62 , and each ear 74 and 76 extends laterally from peripheral edge 62 , ears 74 being formed on mounting walls 70 extending laterally from peripheral edge 62 .
  • Cover 48 defines first section 64 and second section 66 opposite first section 64 , first section 64 including two ears 74 and one ear 76 therebetween, second section 66 including two ears 74 and one ear 76 therebetween.
  • Ears 74 lie in first plane 106
  • ears 76 lie in second plane 108
  • first plane 106 and second plane 106 are offset from each other.
  • Each of the ears 74 and 76 include a projection 80 which engages a corresponding hole 88 or 90 .
  • Each projection 80 of ears 74 faces in direction 82
  • each projection 80 of ears 76 faces in direction 84 , direction 82 being opposite direction 84 .
  • the method can further include rotating thermal assembly 24 until ears 74 and 76 mate with holes 88 or 90 of wall 38 .

Abstract

An appliance assembly includes an appliance and an appliance member. The appliance includes a wall defining a plurality of holes. The appliance member is carried by the appliance. The appliance member includes a housing which includes a snap-fit arrangement coupled with the appliance. The snap-fit arrangement includes a first plurality of ears and a second plurality of ears, the first and second plurality of ears snap-fittingly engaging the plurality of holes.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This is a non-provisional application based upon U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/938,319, entitled “THERMAL FUSE AND TEMPERATURE CONTROL DEVICE ASSEMBLY”, filed May 16, 2007, which is incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to appliances, and, more particularly, to connecting features of an appliance and an appliance member.
2. Description of the Related Art
Appliances, such as a clothes dryer, which have a heater can have a temperature sensing device, such as a thermostat. A thermostat mounting arrangement can include such a thermostat mounted to a surface supporting portion of the clothes dryer to sense temperature conditions in the dryer. This mounting arrangement has an aperture passing through the surface support portion, the aperture having an enlarged central opening with four projection tab members extending into the central opening and two diametrically opposed slots extending radially outward from the central opening. The thermostat can have two resilient wings each having an arm extending generally toward and through a corresponding slot of the aperture. Each arm terminates in a bent end member adapted to engage the inner side of the surface portion adjacent the slot of the aperture. The thermostat can have a depressed shoulder surrounding the temperature sensitive flat surface which engages the outer side of the projection tab members extending into the central opening of the aperture. Difficulty, however, can be encountered when trying to mount the thermostat to the surface supporting portion of the dryer, particularly considering the bending or squeezing of one of the wing members, the pivoting of the thermostat into the central opening, and the pushing of a flat instrument such as a screwdriver downwardly between the squeezed wing and a bulb portion of the thermostat to force the arm of the squeezed wing to take on its final position.
What is needed in the art is a simple, easy-to-use, tool-less snap-fit arrangement for connecting an appliance member to an appliance.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a simple, easy-to-use, tool-less snap-fit arrangement for connecting an appliance member to an appliance.
The invention in one form is directed to an appliance assembly including an appliance and an appliance member. The appliance includes a wall defining a plurality of holes. The appliance member is carried by the appliance. The appliance member includes a housing which includes a snap-fit arrangement coupled with the appliance. The snap-fit arrangement includes a first plurality of ears and a second plurality of ears, the first and second plurality of ears snap-fittingly engaging the plurality of holes.
The invention in another form is directed to a thermal assembly including a housing. The housing includes a snap-fit arrangement configured for coupling with an appliance. The snap-fit arrangement includes a first plurality of ears and a second plurality of ears, the first and second plurality of ears configured for snap-fittingly engaging a plurality of holes defined by a wall of the appliance.
The invention in yet another form is directed to a method of coupling a thermal assembly with an appliance, the method including the steps of providing, carrying, and engaging. The providing step provides that the thermal assembly includes a housing including a snap-fit arrangement, the snap-fit arrangement including a first plurality of ears and a second plurality of ears. The carrying step includes carrying the thermal assembly by the appliance. The engaging step includes snap-fittingly engaging the first and second plurality of ears with a plurality of holes defined by a wall of the appliance.
An advantage of the present invention is that the appliance member is easily mounted to the appliance.
Another advantage is that the appliance member is mounted to the appliance without using tools.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention will be better understood by reference to the following description of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of an appliance assembly including an appliance and a thermal assembly;
FIG. 2 is a schematic representation showing the mechanical and electrical connections between the thermal assembly and the appliance of the appliance assembly of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of the thermal assembly of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the thermal assembly of FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a bottom perspective view of the thermal assembly of FIG. 3;
FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the thermal assembly of FIG. 3;
FIG. 7 is a top perspective view of the thermal assembly of FIG. 3 having been inserted in mounting holes of an appliance wall prior to seating the thermal assembly in the mounting holes;
FIG. 8 is a bottom perspective view of the thermal assembly of FIG. 3 having been inserted in mounting holes of the appliance wall prior to seating the thermal assembly in the mounting holes;
FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the thermal assembly of FIG. 3 seated in mounting holes of the appliance wall;
FIG. 10 is bottom plan view of the appliance wall of FIGS. 7-9; and
FIG. 11 is a side view of the thermal assembly of FIG. 3.
Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The exemplifications set out herein illustrate one embodiment of the invention, and such exemplifications are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 1-2, there is shown an appliance assembly 20 which generally includes an appliance 22 and an appliance member 24, which can be a thermal assembly 24. Appliance 22 can be, for example, a laundry dryer, a dishwasher, an oven, and/or any other appliance that produces heat using a heater or incidental heat. This listing of appliances is not intended to be limiting.
FIG. 1 shows that appliance 22 (a laundry dryer 22) includes an external housing 26, an air intake 28, a fan (not shown), a heater 30, a rotating drum 32, an exhaust gas outlet or housing 34 (for example, an exhaust gas outlet manifold 34 or, simply, a dryer manifold 34), a hot air exhaust line 36, and thermal assembly 24. In general, the fan can be used to draw ambient air into air intake 28. That ambient air can then be heated by heater 30 (which can be a heating coil), and thus heater 30 can be used to heat the interior of rotating drum 32 of the clothes dryer 22. The warmed air can then be supplied to rotating drum 32 which tumbles the clothes in drum 32. Drum 32 can be rotated by a motor and belt arrangement (not shown). Hot air inside drum 32 can be moved out the other end of drum 32 (opposite the air intake side of drum 32), through a lint filter (not shown), and into hot air exhaust manifold 34, which can be used to vent the hot air exhaust away from dryer 22 through a hot air exhaust line 36. It can be appreciated that the design of dryer 22 can take on various forms. The design of dryer 22 should be such that thermal assembly 24 can accurately detect the degree of heat inside or exiting drum 32. Further, appliance 22 can include a wall 38 which defines a plurality of mounting holes 86, 88, 90. Wall 38 can be flat; wall 38, however, need not be completely flat or planar but can have some curvature.
FIG. 2 shows that thermal assembly 24 has a mechanical connection 37 and an electrical connection 39 with appliance. While FIG. 2 shows thermal assembly 24 apart from appliance, it is to be understood that thermal assembly 24 is carried by, and can be disposed within, appliance 22, as indicated in FIG. 1.
While the drawings show appliance member 24 as a thermal assembly, appliance member 24 is not limited to being a thermal assembly. The remaining discussion describes appliance member 24 as thermal assembly 24. As shown in FIGS. 2-6, thermal assembly 24 includes a housing 40 attached to and carried by appliance 22, a temperature sensing device 42 carried by housing 40 and electrically coupled with appliance 22, and a thermal fuse 44 carried by housing 40 and electrically coupled with appliance 22. Thermal assembly 24 can be a modular assembly and thereby can be, as a single unit, attached to and detached from appliance 22. Further, housing 40 includes a snap-fit arrangement 46 coupled with appliance 22.
Housing 40 can further include a cover 48 and a support body 50. Cover 48 can be made of a plastic, a nylon, and/or polypropylene, for example, in a suitable manner (i.e., molding or vacuum forming). As shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, cover 48 can include raised sections on its exterior (or, stated another way, recesses on the interior of cover 48) which conform to temperature sensing device 42 and thermal fuse 44, both of which are contained underneath cover 48. Further, cover 48 includes connection features, such as snaps or ears 74 and 76 and mounting walls 70, which connect (i.e., using a snap-fit) thermal assembly 24 with connection features on appliance (i.e., holes 86, 88, 90 formed in a sheet metal wall 38). This snap-fit arrangement is discussed in more detail below. Cover 48 can be welded (i.e., ultrasonic welding) to support body 50. Alternatively, thermal assembly 24 can be formed by encapsulating temperature sensing device 42 and thermal fuse 44 using overmolding or injection molding techniques. Alternatively, thermal assembly 24 can be formed by potting temperature sensing device 42 and thermal fuse 44 relative to a housing supporting sensor 42 and fuse 44.
Support body 50 can be made from the same material as cover 48. Support body 50 can include a disk portion 52, a raised platform portion 54, and clamp portions 56. As such, support body 50 can carry electrical terminals 58, which are coupled with and thereby matingly received by terminals (not shown) of appliance 22. More specifically, electrical terminals 58 can protrude through disk 52 and be clamped between platform 54 and clamp portions 56. FIG. 6 shows that support body 50 carries four terminals 58, each terminal 58 corresponding respectively to longitudinal ends of temperature sensing device 42 and thermal fuse 44. Proceeding from the longitudinal ends of sensor 44 and the longitudinal ends of fuse 42 are conductors 60 (which can be referred to as leads 60) for conducting electricity respectively to and from electrical terminals 58. Each conductor 60, thus, projects downward from a respective longitudinal end of sensor 42 and fuse 44 and is joined with a terminal 58 positioned proximate the respective longitudinal end, as shown in FIG. 6. The leads 60 can be welded to the terminals 58, such as by resistance welding or ultrasonic welding. Sensor 42 and fuse 44 can be arranged so as to be electrically in parallel with each other, electrically in series with each other, or electrically separate from one another. In the embodiment of the present invention shown in the drawings, temperature sensing device 42 is a thermistor. Alternatively, temperature sensing device 44 can be a thermostat, a thermocouple, or a resistance temperature detector. Sensor 42 can send control signals corresponding to temperature to a controller (not shown) located on appliance 22 (alternatively, if sensor 42 is a thermostat, thermostat can itself be a controller); that controller can function to turn heater 30 “on” or “off” depending upon the sensed temperature and the desired temperature. Fuse 44 can be in direct electrical connection with heater 30 such that when fuse 44 blows due to excessive temperature, electrical supply to heater 30 is cut off and heater 30 shuts down. Alternatively, fuse 44 can be coupled with the controller of appliance 22 such that a blown fuse 44 causes the controller to cause heater 30 to shut down.
Platform 54 can be higher than disk 52 and include two seats, one seat for seating temperature sensing device 42 and the other seat for seating thermal fuse 44, as shown in FIG. 6. In seating sensor 42 and fuse 44 on platform 54, sensor 42 and fuse 44 are mounted to platform 54 in close proximity relative to one another such that thermal fuse 44 accurately detects heat about temperature sensing device 42. In being in close proximity to each other, sensor 42 and fuse 44 can accurately detect, at least approximately, the same degree of heat within or exiting rotating drum 32. Stated another way, if sensor 44 detects hot air exhaust being 150° F. (for example), fuse 44 is positioned close enough to sensor 42 such that fuse 44 also detects the hot air exhaust as being 150° F., or at least very close to 150° F.
Noted is that both cover 48 and platform 54 of support body 50 can include through holes (not shown). More specifically, the through hole in cover 48 can run generally vertically and be positioned between (centered or offset) the raised portions corresponding to sensor 42 and fuse 44. Similarly, the through hole in platform 54 can run vertically and be positioned on the horizontal landing between (centered or offset) the raised portions of platform 54 serving as seats for sensor 42 and fuse 44. The through holes in cover 48 and platform 54 can serve as material removal and can be used during manufacturing.
In the embodiment of the present invention shown in the drawings, support body 50 can be welded to cover 48 (such as by ultrasonic welding). In attaching cover 48 to support body 50, the recesses formed in the interior of cover 48 lie respectively over temperature sensing device 42 and thermal fuse 44 and thereby capture sensor 42 and fuse 44 between platform 54 and cover 48. In so doing, sensor 42 and fuse 44 are located within housing 40, and, further, sensor 42 and fuse 44 are mounted on platform 54 under cover 48.
Thermal assembly 24 is attached to appliance 22 in a place where sensor 42 and fuse 44 detect the heat within or exiting rotating drum 32, the air within or flowing into the rotating drum 32 having been heated by heater 30. For example, thermal assembly 24 can be placed in hot air exhaust outlet manifold 34 of a clothes dryer 22 (as indicated in FIG. 1), the exhaust outlet manifold 34 proceeding from rotating drum 32. Further, if appliance is a clothes dryer 22, dryer 22 can be either an electric dryer or a gas dryer.
More detail is now provided as to features that serve to mechanically connect thermal assembly 24 to wall 38 of appliance 22. Cover 48 of housing 40 includes a peripheral edge 62 and defines a first section 64 and a second section 66 opposite first section 64. First section is formed on cover 48 to one side of axis 68, while second section 66 is formed on the other side of axis 68 (FIG. 4). On peripheral edge 62 of cover 48 is formed snap-fit arrangement 46 for snap-fitting thermal assembly 24 to appliance wall 38.
Snap-fit arrangement 46 includes two mounting walls 70 extending laterally from peripheral edge 62, mounting walls 70 mirroring each other with respect to axes 68 and 72. Mounting walls 70 are formed on opposite sides of cover 48 with respect to axis 72. Each mounting wall 70 runs from first section 64 to second section 66 along peripheral edge 62 and runs generally parallel to peripheral edge 62 except at the longitudinal ends of each mounting wall 70. As indicated below, mounting walls 70 serve not only to form ears 74 but also serve together as a stop and a reinforcing mechanism when mounting thermal assembly 24 to appliance wall 38. As already indicated, snap-fit arrangement 46 further includes ears 74 and ears 76, ears 74, 76 snap-fittingly engaging holes 88 and 90 defined in appliance wall 38. Each ear 74 and 76 includes a platform 78 and a nodule 80 (which can also be called a projection 80) mounted on each ear platform 78. Ears 74 in first section 64 are at least substantially identical to ears 74 in second section 66, and ear 76 in first section 64 is at least substantially identical to ear 76 in second section 66. The use of the phrase “substantially identical” is intended to account for manufacturing tolerances. Thus a description of ears 74 and 76 in first section 64 serves to describe ears 74 and 76 in second section 66.
Ears 74, 76 extend laterally from peripheral edge 62. More specifically, ears 74 are formed on each longitudinal end of each mounting wall 70. Stated another way, longitudinal ends of mounting walls 70 generally form tear-drop shaped platforms 78 which, in part, form ears 74. Ears 76 are not mounted on mounting walls 70. Rather, ears 76 stand alone and project from peripheral edge 62 of cover 48 as a tab. In first section 64, ear 76 is centered between two ears 74. Similarly, in second section 66, ear 76 is also centered between two ears 74. Stated another way, as shown in FIG. 4, ear 76 in first section 64 occupies what can be described as the 12 o'clock position on peripheral edge 62 of cover 48, while ear 76 in second section 66 occupies the 6 o'clock position on peripheral edge 62. The two ears 74 in first section 64 occupy respectively approximately the 11 o'clock and 1 o'clock positions on peripheral edge 62, while the two ears 74 in second section 66 occupy respectively approximately the 5 o'clock and 7 o'clock positions on peripheral edge 62. Thus, first section 64 includes two ears 74 and one ear 76 therebetween, and second section 66 includes two ears 74 and one ear 76 therebetween.
Each ear 74 is horizontally and vertically offset from each ear 76 (Note, what is meant by vertical, horizontal, top, and bottom herein in reference to thermal assembly 24 is intended to have reference to an imaginary horizontal plane on which terminals 58 are positioned, terminals 58 serving as legs for the remaining portions of terminal assembly 24; in use, however, thermal assembly 24 may be rotated and no longer be so positioned on a horizontal plane.). Stated another way, ears 74 are horizontally and vertically spaced from ear 76 in first section 64. This is also the case in second section 66. This horizontal and vertical spacing is readily shown in FIGS. 4 and 11. Further, and more specifically, all ears 74 lie in a first plane 106, all ears 76 lie in a second plane 108, and planes 106 and 108 are offset from each other. Assuming terminals 58 stand thermal assembly 24 on the aforementioned horizontal plane, then planes 106 and 108 are both at least substantially horizontal and thus vertically offset from one another and at least substantially parallel to one another. Plane 106 runs through the horizontal midline of the material thickness of mounting walls 70 and platforms 78 of ears 74 (mounting walls 70 and platforms 78 of ears 74 being coplanar), and (like ears 74) plane 108 runs through the horizontal midline of the material thickness of platforms 78 of ears 76. The offset of planes 106 and 108 is thus made with specific reference to platforms 78 of ears 74 and 76; that is, platforms 78 of ears 74 are offset from platforms 78 of ears 76, as shown in FIGS. 5-8 and 11. On the other hand, nodules 80 may or may not be offset from each other; that is, a plane running through a midline of nodules 80 of ears 74 may or may not be coplanar with a plane running through a midline of nodules 80 of ears 76. FIG. 11 shows nodules 80 of ears 74 being offset (not aligned) with nodules 80 of ears 76; nodules 80 of ears 74 and ears 76 could be larger and then be aligned. The offset between planes 106 and 108 accommodates the appliance wall 38 between ear platforms 78 of ears 74 and 76. FIG. 11 shows planes 106 and 108 as broken lines, it being understood that planes 106 and 108 run perpendicular to the page of the drawing.
Nodules 80 (or, projections 80) on ears 74 face in the same direction 82 relative to each other. Nodules 80 on ears 76 face in the same direction 84 relative to each other. However, nodules 80 of ears 74 face in the opposite direction relative to nodules 80 of ears 76. Stated another way, direction 82 is opposite direction 84.
Appliance wall 38, as shown in FIGS. 7-10, defines a plurality of holes 86, 88, 90 for accommodating thermal assembly 24 in snap-fit engagement. These appliance wall holes include a large hole 86 and two smaller holes 88. Hole 86 is a relatively large hole which matingly accommodates peripheral edge 62 of cover 48. When inserting thermal assembly 24 in hole 86, mounting walls 70 stop thermal assembly 24 from traveling all of the way through hole 86 and thus lie adjacent appliance wall 38. But for mounting holes 90 being in communication with hole 86 as shown in FIG. 10, hole 86 is generally circular in shape. At generally the 12 o'clock and 6 o'clock positions of hole 86 are formed mounting holes 90. Mounting holes 90 can be in communication with mounting hole 86 (that is, hole 86 and holes 90 essentially form one large hole together), as shown in FIG. 10; alternatively, mounting holes 90 can be formed so as not to be in communication with hole 86. Mounting holes 88 are not in communication with mounting holes 86 or 90, are located to one side of each mounting hole 90, and are 180 degrees apart from each other (stated another way, diametrically apart), as shown in FIGS. 7-10 (in particular, FIG. 10). Mounting holes 88 can be substantially circular and are shaped to matingly accommodate nodules 80 of ears 74 disposed in first and second sections 64, 66 of cover 48. Each mounting hole 90 is at least substantially identical to each other. Each mounting hole 90 includes three branches 94, 92, and 94. The three branches are a larger center branch 92 and two, at least substantially identical, smaller side branches 94 positioned to either side of center branch 92. Center branch 92 is shaped and sized to matingly accommodate the insertion of ear platform 78 of each ear 76 when thermal assembly 24 is inserted in hole 86. Each side branch 94 is shaped and sized to matingly accommodate seating of a nodule 80. More specifically, one side branch 94 matingly accommodates the nodule 80 of ear 76, while the other side branch 94 matingly accommodates nodule 80 of one of the ears 74 (that is, the ear 74 which is not seated in mounting hole 88). As such, each projection 80 of ears 74, 76 engages a corresponding hole 86, 88, or 90.
In use, thermal assembly 24 is attached to appliance 22 using the aforedescribed snap-fit arrangement 46, which can include resilient ears 74, 76 of cover 80. Upon mechanically securing thermal assembly 24 to appliance 22, electrical terminals 58 can be electrically coupled with corresponding features (not shown) of appliance 22 (i.e., an appliance electrical connector which is moved to terminals 58 to mate therewith). During normal operation (without malfunctions of temperature sensing device 42), temperature sensing device 42, alone (i.e., a thermostat) or in combination with a controller of appliance 22, regulates the amount of heat produced by heater 30. If, for instance, temperature sensing device 42 malfunctions and fails to turn off heater 30, heater 30 continues to produce heat unless an extra safety measure is employed. Thermal fuse 44 provides that extra safety measure. As such, when sensor 42 fails, fuse 44 also detects heat produced by heater 30 and can cut off electrical supply to heater 30 before the temperature produced by heater 30 reaches a dangerous level. If fuse 44 blows, then thermal assembly 24 can be replaced as a single unit, if assembly 24 is a modular assembly.
More specifically as to the mechanical connection between thermal assembly 24 and appliance 22, the installer can grasp electrical terminals 58, for instance. Installer can then insert the top side 96 of thermal assembly 24 into mounting hole 86. As such, top side 96 can be directed towards the interior of hot air exhaust outlet 34 so that sensor 42 and fuse 44 are immersed in the hot air; that is, top side 96 of thermal assembly 24 is disposed adjacent interior side 100 of appliance wall 38, and bottom side 98 of thermal assembly 24 is disposed proximate the exterior side 102 of appliance wall 38. When inserting top side 96 through hole 86, ears 76 eventually insert through, or at least partially through, corresponding center branches 92 of holes 90; meanwhile, nodules 80 of ears 74 can face exterior side 102 of appliance wall 38. Thermal assembly 24 can be inserted through holes 86 and 90 until mounting walls 70 abut exterior side 102 of appliance wall 38. At this point, thermal assembly 24 will proceed no farther through holes 86 and 90. Installer then rotates thermal assembly 24 in direction 104 on a plane which is at least substantially level with appliance wall 38 (stated another way, the rotation occurs about an axis running through the center of thermal assembly 24 and running perpendicular to a plane formed by appliance wall 38). Even if wall 38 is not completely planar, wall 38 can be at least generally planar (which allows for some curvature in wall 38). The thermal assembly is rotated until nodules 80 of ears 74 and 76 seat in their corresponding holes 88 and 90. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 8, thermal assembly 24 is rotated clockwise until nodules 80 of ears 74 at the 1 o'clock and 7 o'clock positions seat in corresponding holes 88. While these nodules 80 of ears 74 so seat, the nodules 80 of the other ear 74 will seat in the side branch 94 of hole 90 farthest away from the corresponding hole 88 and the nodules 80 of ear 76 will seat in the side branch 94 of hole 90 nearest the corresponding hole 88. Thus, in snap-fitting thermal assembly 24 to appliance wall 38, ears 74, 76 and mounting walls 70 serve to clamp thermal assembly to appliance wall 38. To uninstall thermal assembly 24 from appliance wall 38, thermal assembly 24 is turned in the opposite direction and then pulled out of hole 86 in the opposite direction in which thermal assembly was originally inserted.
The present invention further provides a method of coupling thermal assembly 24 with appliance 22. The method includes the steps of providing, carrying, and engaging. The providing step provides thermal assembly 24 includes housing 40 including snap-fit arrangement 46, snap-fit arrangement 46 including a plurality of ears 74, 76. The carrying step carries thermal assembly 24 by appliance 22. The engaging step snap-fittingly engages ears with a plurality of holes defined by wall 38 of appliance 22. Thermal assembly 24 can include temperature sensing device 42 and thermal fuse 44, temperature sensing device 42 and thermal fuse 44 being electrically coupled with appliance 22, housing 40 carrying temperature sensing device 42 and thermal fuse 44. The plurality of ears can include a first plurality of ears 74 and a second plurality of ears 76, ears 74 and ears 76 snap-fittingly engaging holes 88 and 90. Housing 40 can include peripheral edge 62, and each ear 74 and 76 extends laterally from peripheral edge 62, ears 74 being formed on mounting walls 70 extending laterally from peripheral edge 62. Cover 48 defines first section 64 and second section 66 opposite first section 64, first section 64 including two ears 74 and one ear 76 therebetween, second section 66 including two ears 74 and one ear 76 therebetween. Ears 74 lie in first plane 106, ears 76 lie in second plane 108, and first plane 106 and second plane 106 are offset from each other. Each of the ears 74 and 76 include a projection 80 which engages a corresponding hole 88 or 90. Each projection 80 of ears 74 faces in direction 82, and each projection 80 of ears 76 faces in direction 84, direction 82 being opposite direction 84. The method can further include rotating thermal assembly 24 until ears 74 and 76 mate with holes 88 or 90 of wall 38.
While this invention has been described with respect to at least one embodiment, the present invention can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.

Claims (20)

1. An appliance assembly, comprising:
an appliance including a wall defining a plurality of holes; and
an appliance member carried by said appliance, said appliance member including a housing which includes a snap-fit arrangement coupled with said appliance, said snap-fit arrangement including a plurality of ears snap-fittingly engaging said plurality of holes, said plurality of ears including a first plurality of ears and a second plurality of ears, said first plurality of ears including a first plurality of platforms which are coplanar relative to one another, said second plurality of ears including a second plurality of platforms which are coplanar relative to one another, said first plurality of platforms being parallel relative to said second plurality of platforms.
2. The appliance assembly of claim 1, wherein said appliance member is a thermal assembly which includes a temperature sensing device and a thermal fuse, said temperature sensing device and said thermal fuse being electrically coupled with said appliance, said housing carrying said temperature sensing device and said thermal fuse, said first and second plurality of ears snap-fittingly engaging said plurality of holes.
3. The appliance assembly of claim 2, wherein said housing includes a cover with a peripheral edge, said snap-fit arrangement being formed on said peripheral edge and including a plurality of mounting walls, said plurality of mounting walls and said second plurality of ears extending laterally from said peripheral edge, said first plurality of ears being formed by said plurality of mounting walls.
4. The appliance assembly of claim 3, wherein said cover defines a first section and a second section opposite said first section, said first section including two of said first plurality of ears and one of said second plurality of ears therebetween, said second section including two of said first plurality of ears and one of said second plurality of ears therebetween.
5. The appliance assembly of claim 4, wherein said first plurality of ears lie in a first plane, said second plurality of ears lie in a second plane, and said first and second planes are offset from each other.
6. The appliance assembly of claim 2, wherein each said ear of said first and second plurality of ears includes a projection which engages a corresponding one of said plurality of holes, each of said projections of said first plurality of ears facing in a first direction and each of said projections of said second plurality of ears facing in a second direction, said first direction being opposite said second direction.
7. The appliance assembly of claim 1, wherein said appliance is a laundry dryer which includes a heater.
8. A thermal assembly, comprising:
a housing including a snap-fit arrangement configured for coupling with an appliance, said snap-fit arrangement including a plurality of ears configured for snap-fittingly engaging a plurality of holes defined by a wall of said appliance, said plurality of ears including a first plurality of ears and a second plurality of ears, said first plurality of ears including a first plurality of platforms which are coplanar relative to one another, said second plurality of ears including a second plurality of platforms which are coplanar relative to one another, said first plurality of platforms being parallel relative to said second plurality of platforms.
9. The thermal assembly of claim 8, further including:
a temperature sensing device configured for electrically coupling with said appliance; and
a thermal fuse configured for electrically coupling with said appliance, said housing carrying said temperature sensing device and said thermal fuse, said first and second plurality of ears configured for snap-fittingly engaging said plurality of holes.
10. The thermal assembly of claim 9, wherein said housing includes a cover with a peripheral edge, said snap-fit arrangement being formed on said peripheral edge and including a plurality of mounting walls, said plurality of mounting walls and said second plurality of ears extending laterally from said peripheral edge, said first plurality of ears being formed by said plurality of mounting walls.
11. The thermal assembly of claim 10, wherein said cover defines a first section and a second section opposite said first section, said first section including two of said first plurality of ears and one of said second plurality of ears therebetween, said second section including two of said first plurality of ears and one of said second plurality of ears therebetween.
12. The thermal assembly of claim 11, wherein said first plurality of ears lie in a first plane, said second plurality of ears lie in a second plane, and said first and second planes are offset from each other.
13. The thermal assembly of claim 9, wherein each said ear of said first and second plurality of ears includes a projection which is configured to engage a corresponding one of said plurality of holes, each of said projections of said first plurality of ears facing in a first direction and each of said projections of said second plurality of ears facing in a second direction, said first direction being opposite said second direction.
14. A method of coupling a thermal assembly with an appliance, said method comprising the steps of:
providing that the thermal assembly includes a housing including a snap-fit arrangement, said snap-fit arrangement including a plurality of ears, said plurality of ears including a first plurality of ears and a second plurality of ears, said first plurality of ears including a first plurality of platforms which are coplanar relative to one another, said second plurality of ears including a second plurality of platforms which are coplanar relative to one another, said first plurality of platforms being parallel relative to said second plurality of platforms;
carrying the thermal assembly by the appliance; and
snap-fittingly engaging said plurality of ears with a plurality of holes defined by a wall of the appliance.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein the thermal assembly includes a temperature sensing device and a thermal fuse, said temperature sensing device and said thermal fuse being electrically coupled with the appliance, said housing carrying said temperature sensing device and said thermal fuse, said first and second plurality of ears snap-fittingly engaging said plurality of holes.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein said housing includes a cover with a peripheral edge, said snap-fit arrangement being formed on said peripheral edge and including a plurality of mounting walls, said plurality of mounting walls and said second plurality of ears extending laterally from said peripheral edge, said first plurality of ears being formed by said plurality of mounting walls.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein said cover defines a first section and a second section opposite said first section, said first section including two of said first plurality of ears and one of said second plurality of ears therebetween, said second section including two of said first plurality of ears and one of said second plurality of ears therebetween.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein said first plurality of ears lie in a first plane, said second plurality of ears lie in a second plane, and said first and second planes are offset from each other.
19. The method of claim 15, wherein each said ear of said first and second plurality of ears includes a projection which engages a corresponding one of said plurality of holes, each of said projections of said first plurality of ears facing in a first direction and each of said projections of said second plurality of ears facing in a second direction, said first direction being opposite said second direction.
20. The method of claim 15, further comprising rotating said thermal assembly until said first and second plurality of ears mate with said plurality of holes of said wall.
US12/121,836 2007-05-16 2008-05-16 Thermal assembly coupled with an appliance Active 2030-10-02 US8174351B2 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US12/121,836 US8174351B2 (en) 2007-05-16 2008-05-16 Thermal assembly coupled with an appliance

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US93831907P 2007-05-16 2007-05-16
US12/121,836 US8174351B2 (en) 2007-05-16 2008-05-16 Thermal assembly coupled with an appliance

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
US20080285253A1 US20080285253A1 (en) 2008-11-20
US8174351B2 true US8174351B2 (en) 2012-05-08

Family

ID=40026937

Family Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US12/121,823 Active 2028-11-17 US7920044B2 (en) 2007-05-16 2008-05-16 Appliance assembly with thermal fuse and temperature sensing device assembly
US12/121,836 Active 2030-10-02 US8174351B2 (en) 2007-05-16 2008-05-16 Thermal assembly coupled with an appliance

Family Applications Before (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US12/121,823 Active 2028-11-17 US7920044B2 (en) 2007-05-16 2008-05-16 Appliance assembly with thermal fuse and temperature sensing device assembly

Country Status (1)

Country Link
US (2) US7920044B2 (en)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20120032774A1 (en) * 2009-04-21 2012-02-09 Smart Electronics Inc. Thermal fuse resistor, manufacturing method thereof, and installation method thereof
US20120038450A1 (en) * 2009-04-21 2012-02-16 Smart Electronics Inc. Thermal fuse resistor
US20150262775A1 (en) * 2014-03-17 2015-09-17 Smart Electronics Inc. Fuse resistor
US9520709B2 (en) 2014-10-15 2016-12-13 Schneider Electric USA, Inc. Surge protection device having two part ceramic case for metal oxide varistor with isolated thermal cut off

Families Citing this family (15)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
KR100556503B1 (en) * 2002-11-26 2006-03-03 엘지전자 주식회사 Control Method of Drying Time for Dryer
US7920044B2 (en) * 2007-05-16 2011-04-05 Group Dekko, Inc. Appliance assembly with thermal fuse and temperature sensing device assembly
CA2629494A1 (en) * 2008-04-18 2009-10-18 Mabe Canada Inc. Clothes dryer with wiring safeguard
US8576041B2 (en) * 2008-12-17 2013-11-05 Cooper Technologies Company Radial fuse base and assembly
WO2012023693A2 (en) * 2010-08-19 2012-02-23 한국단자공업 주식회사 Electronic relay
EP2466159B1 (en) * 2010-12-15 2013-10-30 AGUSTAWESTLAND S.p.A. Fastening assembly
US8461956B2 (en) * 2011-07-20 2013-06-11 Polytronics Technology Corp. Over-current protection device
US9191762B1 (en) 2012-02-23 2015-11-17 Joseph M. Matesa Alarm detection device and method
US9714870B2 (en) 2013-01-11 2017-07-25 International Business Machines Corporation Solder assembly temperature monitoring process
JP6057374B2 (en) * 2013-06-11 2017-01-11 矢崎総業株式会社 Shield connector
GB2515102B (en) * 2013-06-14 2019-06-19 Ford Global Tech Llc Particulate filter overheat protection
GB2527074A (en) * 2014-06-10 2015-12-16 Sicame Uk Ltd Smart cut-out carrier
KR102443320B1 (en) * 2016-01-05 2022-09-15 엘지전자 주식회사 Dish washer and controlling method thereof
KR102526714B1 (en) 2018-02-23 2023-04-28 엘지전자 주식회사 Washing machine
US10347402B1 (en) * 2018-05-23 2019-07-09 Xiamen Set Electronics Co., Ltd. Thermal fuse resistor

Citations (74)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2012979A (en) * 1935-09-03 Snap-on sign receptacle
US2272688A (en) * 1939-11-09 1942-02-10 Walter Newman Mounting for switches and the like
US2278385A (en) * 1940-05-09 1942-03-31 Utility Patent Trust No 17938 Electric lamp socket
US2849697A (en) * 1955-07-07 1958-08-26 Essex Wire Corp Turn in socket
US2885789A (en) 1955-09-28 1959-05-12 Gen Electric Apparatus for drying fabrics
US3227841A (en) 1960-09-19 1966-01-04 Mc Graw Edison Co Protectors for electric circuits
US3279728A (en) * 1964-02-20 1966-10-18 Stackpole Carbon Co Electrical control panel mounting plate
US3335471A (en) * 1963-09-20 1967-08-15 United Carr Inc Fastener for metal plates
US3366911A (en) * 1963-12-10 1968-01-30 Cts Corp Electrical control with panel mounting means
US3622931A (en) 1970-03-26 1971-11-23 Circle F Ind Inc S-type fuse holder
US3701068A (en) 1971-11-09 1972-10-24 Gem Products Inc Motor protector
US3715697A (en) 1971-05-24 1973-02-06 Therm O Disc Inc Thermal fuse
US3786388A (en) 1971-05-27 1974-01-15 K Sato Fuse-type circuit breaker
US3828289A (en) 1973-07-23 1974-08-06 American Thermostat Corp Combined current and temperature sensitive fuse assembly
US3852697A (en) 1973-07-11 1974-12-03 Therm O Disc Inc Bimetal snap disc
US3885767A (en) * 1974-01-23 1975-05-27 Edward J Olowinski Snap-in mounting and mounting assembly
US3931602A (en) 1970-08-10 1976-01-06 Micro Devices Corporation Thermal limiter for one or more electrical circuits and method of making the same
US3949217A (en) * 1974-08-02 1976-04-06 Trw Inc. Electric bulb holder
US4001751A (en) 1975-10-22 1977-01-04 Therm-O-Disc Incorporated Non-resettable thermostat
US4029953A (en) * 1975-09-22 1977-06-14 General Motors Corporation Twist-lock lamp socket locking means
US4096464A (en) 1976-12-13 1978-06-20 Gte Sylvania Incorporated Thermistor assembly having overload protection
US4267543A (en) 1979-11-13 1981-05-12 San-O Industrial Co., Ltd. Miniature electric fuse
US4297668A (en) 1980-02-13 1981-10-27 Therm-O-Disc, Incorporated Thermostat with bracket for attachment to a tubular member
US4313047A (en) 1980-03-06 1982-01-26 Scm Corporation Combined thermostatic control and thermal fuse overtemperature protector for electrical heating appliances
USD274904S (en) 1980-03-14 1984-07-31 Telefonaktiebolaget L M Ericsson Mounting ring for prefabricated fire wall lead-in
US4472705A (en) 1983-01-03 1984-09-18 Elmwood Sensors, Inc. Thermostatic switch with thermal override
US4653708A (en) 1985-12-16 1987-03-31 Hamilton Standard Controls, Inc. Twist-in mounting for a thermostat
US4720759A (en) 1986-05-15 1988-01-19 Tobu Electric Co., Ltd. Compact protector utilizing a bimetal and an excessive rise prevention portion
US4887063A (en) 1986-06-14 1989-12-12 Hofsass P Insulating casing for thermal switches
US5014036A (en) 1989-01-25 1991-05-07 Orient Co., Ltd. Thermal and current sensing switch
US5035398A (en) * 1990-04-11 1991-07-30 Chiang Chao Cheng Mounting structure for a smoke exhauster
US5225970A (en) * 1991-09-19 1993-07-06 Palumbo Nicholas R Twist-in mounting for electromechanical component
US5272605A (en) * 1990-09-20 1993-12-21 Dual-Lite Manufacturing, Inc. Canopy mounting device for exit signs and the like
US5347610A (en) 1992-07-09 1994-09-13 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Safety control system for a clothes washer incorporating primary, secondary, and tertiary temperature sensors
US5350140A (en) * 1992-12-02 1994-09-27 White Consolidated Industries, Inc. Universal control console
US5553553A (en) * 1994-09-23 1996-09-10 Goodman Manufacturing Company, L.P. Furnace and method for securing a thermostat to a furnace
US5564831A (en) 1989-08-11 1996-10-15 Whirlpool Corporation Method and apparatus for detecting the temperature of an environment
US5621370A (en) 1995-03-14 1997-04-15 St. Louis; Robert Mounting arrangement for thermostat in a clothes dryer
US5685642A (en) * 1994-09-23 1997-11-11 Honeywell Inc. Mounting for a bimetal coil thermometer and having an integral feature assisting calibration
US5699438A (en) * 1995-08-24 1997-12-16 Prince Corporation Speaker mounting system
US5831507A (en) 1996-09-09 1998-11-03 Toyo System Co., Ltd. Dual-functional fuse unit that is responsive to electric current and ambient temperature
US5963122A (en) 1996-10-30 1999-10-05 Yazaki Corporation Large-current fuse unit
US5984721A (en) * 1997-04-08 1999-11-16 Whitaker Corporation Panel mount connector with twist lock
US6127913A (en) 1998-04-07 2000-10-03 Yamada Electric Mfg. Co., Ltd. Thermal protector
US6144283A (en) 1998-05-19 2000-11-07 Yazaki Corporation Temperature detectable large-current fuse and method of assembling the same
US6222133B1 (en) * 1999-05-05 2001-04-24 Camco Inc. One-piece ceramic terminal insulator mounting arrangement
US6252488B1 (en) 1999-09-01 2001-06-26 Leviton Manufacturing Co., Inc. Metal oxide varistors having thermal protection
US6300859B1 (en) 1999-08-24 2001-10-09 Tyco Electronics Corporation Circuit protection devices
USD455720S1 (en) 2000-08-10 2002-04-16 Adc Telecommunications, Inc. Adapter housing
USD460742S1 (en) 2001-05-14 2002-07-23 Scosche Industries, Inc. Fuse holder
USD460949S1 (en) 2001-05-15 2002-07-30 Scosche Industries, Inc. Fuse holder device
US6430019B1 (en) 1998-06-08 2002-08-06 Ferraz S.A. Circuit protection device
US6445277B1 (en) 1999-06-22 2002-09-03 Yazaki Corporation Safety device of electric circuit and process for producing the same
US6492747B1 (en) 1997-12-20 2002-12-10 Leoni Bordnetz-Systeme Gmbh & Co. Kg Electric fuse
US6507264B1 (en) 2000-08-28 2003-01-14 Littelfuse, Inc. Integral fuse for use in semiconductor packages
US6566995B2 (en) 2000-05-17 2003-05-20 Sony Chemicals Corporation Protective element
US6583711B2 (en) 2001-11-08 2003-06-24 Chin-Chi Yang Temperature sensitive circuit breaker
US6634616B2 (en) * 2000-12-01 2003-10-21 General Electric Company Twist lock fixture attachment system
USD481684S1 (en) 2002-05-22 2003-11-04 Thomas & Betts International, Inc. Bonding tab
US6707370B2 (en) 2002-04-26 2004-03-16 Acra Electric Corporation Thermal switch and heater
US20040135663A1 (en) 2003-01-13 2004-07-15 Byong-Jun Jang PTC thermistor having safety structure for preventing continuous breakage
US6808669B2 (en) 1999-07-28 2004-10-26 Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. Method of manufacturing a high voltage transformer for microwave oven
US6836205B2 (en) 2000-10-04 2004-12-28 Honeywell International, Inc. Thermal switch containing resistance temperature detector
US20050045620A1 (en) 2003-08-29 2005-03-03 Huang Chen-Lung Electric heater
WO2005024115A1 (en) 2003-08-29 2005-03-17 David James Knight Energy scavenging system
US20050140491A1 (en) 2003-12-26 2005-06-30 Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. Overheat protection device for movable body surface, overheat protection apparatus using the same and temperarture control device
US20050259382A1 (en) * 2002-10-16 2005-11-24 Dav Societe Anonyme Push-button electrical switch with deformable actuation and method for making same
US20050269309A1 (en) 2004-03-08 2005-12-08 Chung Lau Joseph W Deep fryer
US7357669B2 (en) * 2005-07-12 2008-04-15 Radiall Electrical connection assembly
US20080284558A1 (en) 2007-05-16 2008-11-20 Scheiber Joesph J Appliance assembly with thermal fuse and temperature sensing device assembly
US7477503B2 (en) 2005-04-30 2009-01-13 Efi Electronics Corporation Circuit protection device
US7515029B2 (en) 2002-11-29 2009-04-07 Panasonic Corporation Starting device for single-phase induction motor
US7529072B2 (en) 2005-07-29 2009-05-05 Nec Schott Components Corporation Protection apparatus
USD607839S1 (en) 2008-05-16 2010-01-12 Group Dekko, Inc. Mounting hole in appliance wall

Patent Citations (77)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2012979A (en) * 1935-09-03 Snap-on sign receptacle
US2272688A (en) * 1939-11-09 1942-02-10 Walter Newman Mounting for switches and the like
US2278385A (en) * 1940-05-09 1942-03-31 Utility Patent Trust No 17938 Electric lamp socket
US2849697A (en) * 1955-07-07 1958-08-26 Essex Wire Corp Turn in socket
US2885789A (en) 1955-09-28 1959-05-12 Gen Electric Apparatus for drying fabrics
US3227841A (en) 1960-09-19 1966-01-04 Mc Graw Edison Co Protectors for electric circuits
US3335471A (en) * 1963-09-20 1967-08-15 United Carr Inc Fastener for metal plates
US3366911A (en) * 1963-12-10 1968-01-30 Cts Corp Electrical control with panel mounting means
US3279728A (en) * 1964-02-20 1966-10-18 Stackpole Carbon Co Electrical control panel mounting plate
US3622931A (en) 1970-03-26 1971-11-23 Circle F Ind Inc S-type fuse holder
US3931602A (en) 1970-08-10 1976-01-06 Micro Devices Corporation Thermal limiter for one or more electrical circuits and method of making the same
US3715697A (en) 1971-05-24 1973-02-06 Therm O Disc Inc Thermal fuse
US3786388A (en) 1971-05-27 1974-01-15 K Sato Fuse-type circuit breaker
US3701068A (en) 1971-11-09 1972-10-24 Gem Products Inc Motor protector
US3852697A (en) 1973-07-11 1974-12-03 Therm O Disc Inc Bimetal snap disc
US3828289A (en) 1973-07-23 1974-08-06 American Thermostat Corp Combined current and temperature sensitive fuse assembly
US3885767A (en) * 1974-01-23 1975-05-27 Edward J Olowinski Snap-in mounting and mounting assembly
US3949217A (en) * 1974-08-02 1976-04-06 Trw Inc. Electric bulb holder
US4029953A (en) * 1975-09-22 1977-06-14 General Motors Corporation Twist-lock lamp socket locking means
US4001751A (en) 1975-10-22 1977-01-04 Therm-O-Disc Incorporated Non-resettable thermostat
US4096464A (en) 1976-12-13 1978-06-20 Gte Sylvania Incorporated Thermistor assembly having overload protection
US4267543A (en) 1979-11-13 1981-05-12 San-O Industrial Co., Ltd. Miniature electric fuse
US4297668A (en) 1980-02-13 1981-10-27 Therm-O-Disc, Incorporated Thermostat with bracket for attachment to a tubular member
US4313047A (en) 1980-03-06 1982-01-26 Scm Corporation Combined thermostatic control and thermal fuse overtemperature protector for electrical heating appliances
USD274904S (en) 1980-03-14 1984-07-31 Telefonaktiebolaget L M Ericsson Mounting ring for prefabricated fire wall lead-in
US4472705A (en) 1983-01-03 1984-09-18 Elmwood Sensors, Inc. Thermostatic switch with thermal override
US4653708A (en) 1985-12-16 1987-03-31 Hamilton Standard Controls, Inc. Twist-in mounting for a thermostat
US4720759A (en) 1986-05-15 1988-01-19 Tobu Electric Co., Ltd. Compact protector utilizing a bimetal and an excessive rise prevention portion
US4887063A (en) 1986-06-14 1989-12-12 Hofsass P Insulating casing for thermal switches
US5014036A (en) 1989-01-25 1991-05-07 Orient Co., Ltd. Thermal and current sensing switch
US5564831A (en) 1989-08-11 1996-10-15 Whirlpool Corporation Method and apparatus for detecting the temperature of an environment
US5035398A (en) * 1990-04-11 1991-07-30 Chiang Chao Cheng Mounting structure for a smoke exhauster
US5272605A (en) * 1990-09-20 1993-12-21 Dual-Lite Manufacturing, Inc. Canopy mounting device for exit signs and the like
US5225970A (en) * 1991-09-19 1993-07-06 Palumbo Nicholas R Twist-in mounting for electromechanical component
US5347610A (en) 1992-07-09 1994-09-13 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Safety control system for a clothes washer incorporating primary, secondary, and tertiary temperature sensors
US5350140A (en) * 1992-12-02 1994-09-27 White Consolidated Industries, Inc. Universal control console
US5553553A (en) * 1994-09-23 1996-09-10 Goodman Manufacturing Company, L.P. Furnace and method for securing a thermostat to a furnace
US5685642A (en) * 1994-09-23 1997-11-11 Honeywell Inc. Mounting for a bimetal coil thermometer and having an integral feature assisting calibration
US5621370A (en) 1995-03-14 1997-04-15 St. Louis; Robert Mounting arrangement for thermostat in a clothes dryer
US5699438A (en) * 1995-08-24 1997-12-16 Prince Corporation Speaker mounting system
US5831507A (en) 1996-09-09 1998-11-03 Toyo System Co., Ltd. Dual-functional fuse unit that is responsive to electric current and ambient temperature
US5963122A (en) 1996-10-30 1999-10-05 Yazaki Corporation Large-current fuse unit
US6011458A (en) 1996-10-30 2000-01-04 Yazaki Corporation Large-current fuse unit
US5984721A (en) * 1997-04-08 1999-11-16 Whitaker Corporation Panel mount connector with twist lock
US6492747B1 (en) 1997-12-20 2002-12-10 Leoni Bordnetz-Systeme Gmbh & Co. Kg Electric fuse
US6127913A (en) 1998-04-07 2000-10-03 Yamada Electric Mfg. Co., Ltd. Thermal protector
US6144283A (en) 1998-05-19 2000-11-07 Yazaki Corporation Temperature detectable large-current fuse and method of assembling the same
US6430019B1 (en) 1998-06-08 2002-08-06 Ferraz S.A. Circuit protection device
US6222133B1 (en) * 1999-05-05 2001-04-24 Camco Inc. One-piece ceramic terminal insulator mounting arrangement
US6445277B1 (en) 1999-06-22 2002-09-03 Yazaki Corporation Safety device of electric circuit and process for producing the same
US6808669B2 (en) 1999-07-28 2004-10-26 Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. Method of manufacturing a high voltage transformer for microwave oven
US6300859B1 (en) 1999-08-24 2001-10-09 Tyco Electronics Corporation Circuit protection devices
US6252488B1 (en) 1999-09-01 2001-06-26 Leviton Manufacturing Co., Inc. Metal oxide varistors having thermal protection
US6566995B2 (en) 2000-05-17 2003-05-20 Sony Chemicals Corporation Protective element
USD455720S1 (en) 2000-08-10 2002-04-16 Adc Telecommunications, Inc. Adapter housing
US6507264B1 (en) 2000-08-28 2003-01-14 Littelfuse, Inc. Integral fuse for use in semiconductor packages
US6836205B2 (en) 2000-10-04 2004-12-28 Honeywell International, Inc. Thermal switch containing resistance temperature detector
US6634616B2 (en) * 2000-12-01 2003-10-21 General Electric Company Twist lock fixture attachment system
USD460742S1 (en) 2001-05-14 2002-07-23 Scosche Industries, Inc. Fuse holder
USD460949S1 (en) 2001-05-15 2002-07-30 Scosche Industries, Inc. Fuse holder device
US6583711B2 (en) 2001-11-08 2003-06-24 Chin-Chi Yang Temperature sensitive circuit breaker
US6707370B2 (en) 2002-04-26 2004-03-16 Acra Electric Corporation Thermal switch and heater
USD496910S1 (en) 2002-05-22 2004-10-05 Thomas & Betts International, Inc. Bonding tab
USD481684S1 (en) 2002-05-22 2003-11-04 Thomas & Betts International, Inc. Bonding tab
US20050259382A1 (en) * 2002-10-16 2005-11-24 Dav Societe Anonyme Push-button electrical switch with deformable actuation and method for making same
US7515029B2 (en) 2002-11-29 2009-04-07 Panasonic Corporation Starting device for single-phase induction motor
US20040135663A1 (en) 2003-01-13 2004-07-15 Byong-Jun Jang PTC thermistor having safety structure for preventing continuous breakage
US20050045620A1 (en) 2003-08-29 2005-03-03 Huang Chen-Lung Electric heater
WO2005024115A1 (en) 2003-08-29 2005-03-17 David James Knight Energy scavenging system
US20050140491A1 (en) 2003-12-26 2005-06-30 Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. Overheat protection device for movable body surface, overheat protection apparatus using the same and temperarture control device
US20050269309A1 (en) 2004-03-08 2005-12-08 Chung Lau Joseph W Deep fryer
US7477503B2 (en) 2005-04-30 2009-01-13 Efi Electronics Corporation Circuit protection device
US7357669B2 (en) * 2005-07-12 2008-04-15 Radiall Electrical connection assembly
US7529072B2 (en) 2005-07-29 2009-05-05 Nec Schott Components Corporation Protection apparatus
US20080284558A1 (en) 2007-05-16 2008-11-20 Scheiber Joesph J Appliance assembly with thermal fuse and temperature sensing device assembly
US7920044B2 (en) 2007-05-16 2011-04-05 Group Dekko, Inc. Appliance assembly with thermal fuse and temperature sensing device assembly
USD607839S1 (en) 2008-05-16 2010-01-12 Group Dekko, Inc. Mounting hole in appliance wall

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20120032774A1 (en) * 2009-04-21 2012-02-09 Smart Electronics Inc. Thermal fuse resistor, manufacturing method thereof, and installation method thereof
US20120038450A1 (en) * 2009-04-21 2012-02-16 Smart Electronics Inc. Thermal fuse resistor
US8400252B2 (en) * 2009-04-21 2013-03-19 Smart Electronics Inc. Thermal fuse resistor
US8400253B2 (en) * 2009-04-21 2013-03-19 Smart Electronics Inc. Thermal fuse resistor, manufacturing method thereof, and installation method thereof
US20150262775A1 (en) * 2014-03-17 2015-09-17 Smart Electronics Inc. Fuse resistor
US9697969B2 (en) * 2014-03-17 2017-07-04 Smart Electronics Inc. Fuse resistor
US9520709B2 (en) 2014-10-15 2016-12-13 Schneider Electric USA, Inc. Surge protection device having two part ceramic case for metal oxide varistor with isolated thermal cut off

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
US20080285253A1 (en) 2008-11-20
US7920044B2 (en) 2011-04-05
US20080284558A1 (en) 2008-11-20

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US8174351B2 (en) Thermal assembly coupled with an appliance
US20100018011A1 (en) Securing element for a tubular heater, fastening system having said securing element and washing machine having said securing system
US7425688B2 (en) Heating assembly for a tumble dryer
JP2004502520A (en) Heatable window washer nozzle
US5364051A (en) Locator clip
EP1845591B1 (en) Supply and control device for an electric appliance having a fluid-tight terminal with pin contacts, in particular a motor for a compressor of a household appliance
TR201716621T3 (en) A cooking appliance containing cables carrying electricity.
US10439343B2 (en) Power cord assembly for an appliance
US20220128240A1 (en) Cooking appliance
US11174587B2 (en) Heater assembly for an appliance having one or more housing-securing features
WO2020108377A1 (en) Interface installing structure, interface assembly, and air conditioner
CN209054762U (en) A kind of interface mounting structure, interface module and air conditioner
JP2023090038A (en) Water heater
CN113684651B (en) Steam generator, clothes treatment device and front support assembly thereof
CN213551342U (en) Lid assembly and have its cooking utensil
CN109423877A (en) Flatiron including resistance and for cutting off the fuse to resistance power supply
US20220379064A1 (en) Assembly for conducting respiratory air in a patient ventilation system
CN219228174U (en) Temperature sensing element fixed knot constructs and domestic appliance
CN216489546U (en) Threading seat and steaming and baking box
CN209448125U (en) A kind of electric connection structure and cooking apparatus
CN215863718U (en) Air conditioner indoor unit and air conditioner
CN213909822U (en) Cooking utensil
CN215774020U (en) Heat dissipation structure of electric control box of air conditioner
KR102619116B1 (en) Connector Bridge
CN210373896U (en) Cooling and heating fan and support thereof

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AS Assignment

Owner name: GROUP DEKKO, INC., INDIANA

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:SCHEIBER, JOESPH J.;COVERSTONE, MICHAEL S.;LEWIS, JEREMIAH;REEL/FRAME:020956/0967

Effective date: 20080509

AS Assignment

Owner name: WELLS FARGO CAPITAL FINANCE, LLC, AS AGENT, ILLINO

Free format text: SECURITY AGREEMENT;ASSIGNOR:GROUP DEKKO, INC.;REEL/FRAME:026503/0966

Effective date: 20110624

STCF Information on status: patent grant

Free format text: PATENTED CASE

FPAY Fee payment

Year of fee payment: 4

MAFP Maintenance fee payment

Free format text: PAYMENT OF MAINTENANCE FEE, 8TH YEAR, LARGE ENTITY (ORIGINAL EVENT CODE: M1552); ENTITY STATUS OF PATENT OWNER: LARGE ENTITY

Year of fee payment: 8

FEPP Fee payment procedure

Free format text: MAINTENANCE FEE REMINDER MAILED (ORIGINAL EVENT CODE: REM.); ENTITY STATUS OF PATENT OWNER: LARGE ENTITY